TexMessage: Is Rick Perry’s Gov. Goodhair reputation a help or a hindrance in possible presidential quest?

Good morning, TexMessagers! Did you hear about Ron Paul’s pot plan, or Rick Perry’s social media flub? You will.

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TEXclusive

TEXclusive By ANDREA VASQUEZ

As the buzz ramps up around Rick Perry’s could-be candidacy, it seems like the Lone Star news out of Washington is “All Perry All the Time.” Here’s a look at some of the things that are catching the nation’s eyes — you know, besides that anti-groping stuff in the Legislature.

The ‘do

Yes, Governor Goodhair has long had a reputation for, well, good hair. His mane even earned him two faux Twitter accounts, @RickPerrysHair and @GovPerrysHair. Though neither have had a tweet since 2009, the media and the public are still bowing down to Perry’s barber. (Keep an eye on us for a collection of media odes to the governor’s good looks — coming soon.)

A tongue tweester

Speaking of Twitter — or, as the governor has said several times, “Tweeter” — a social media slip-up caught the ears of several reporters over the weekend. In a video shown at the Right Online conference in Minneapolis, Perry reminded viewers, “You can always follow me on Tweeter.” The mispronunciation is one he has made before, PoliTex reported, and is sparking comparisons to his fellow Texan and former president George W. Bush. You remember: “The Internets.” (The ones that Al Gore invented.)

The Bush-Perry continuum

We asked you yesterday, and others are still wondering out loud: Why are so many Washington media outlets comparing the speaking styles of Rick Perry and George W. Bush? Outlets such as the Washington Post are commenting that Perry’s accent, gestures and Texas upbringing are giving us deja vus from about four years ago. The jury is still out on whether this will help or hurt the governor if he decides to jump into the race.

Unsubstantiated rumors

Perry’s biggest step back into the spotlight since his 2010 gubernatorial race against Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison brought something else back, too: mumbled questions about whether the governor is gay. (Remember that the rumor-spreading back then cost a KBH aide his job?) It’s an old rumor without a shred of evidence, and we wouldn’t bring it up except that twice in two days, mainstream publications have published stories on the subject — and it won’t go away, despite the complete lack of evidence and overabundance of anti-Perry malice among those spreading the rumors. Politico dusted off the old, unsubstantiated rumors in an article Tuesday, and Wednesday New York Magazine again posed the question about whether the mumblings — true or false — could hurt the potential campaign.

In the age of Internet and a tireless news cycle, politicians are accepting a certain level of celebrity with their job titles. Some do this more willingly than others — some even star on reality TV shows. Bold moves (think Day of Prayer), bold hair and a firm refusal to commit or step down from a possible White House bid are spreading Perry’s reach beyond the Lone Star State, and his ability to navigate the national recognition could determine whether it would serve as an advantage or disadvantage in a presidential run.

If he does take the leap, he already has a self-proclaimed “unofficial biographer” on Tweeter, @rickperryfacts. The last post: “Rick Perry doesn’t have time to brew coffee. He just chews a handful of beans and washes it down with boiling water.”

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Texas Tips

Every morning, we offer Texas news you may not have heard and insights from the Washington bureau staff.

★ RON PAUL REJECTS NAME-CALLING. Texas congressman and White House hopeful Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, is defending his position on foreign policy after Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Minnesota governor and presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty voiced concerns that the GOP is becoming isolationist. Paul corrected what he saw as a mistaken understanding of isolationism and clarified his stance the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. More >>>

★ EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON SHOWS SUPPORT FOR FIREFIGHTERS. In the midst of some of the worst wildfires in Texas history, Democratic Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson introduced a bill with Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., to help firefighters and first responders nationwide get the training, equipment and staff needed. More >>>

★ LAND OF OPPORTUNITY. Some of Texas’ big cities — Houston, San Antonio and Austin, to name a few — were named some of the best places to young adults ready to start their careers. See how they scored.

★ RON PAUL FOR POT. A press release from the Marijuana Policy Project announced that Ron Paul is joining Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., in introducing legislation to legalize marijuana. The bipartisan bill would allow states to “legalize, regulate, tax, and control marijuana without federal interference.” More >>>

Reader Comment of the Day

kickstart: Maybe Perry could cut spending on education and Medicaid nationwide and concentrate on other ways to screw the middle class and poor, just like his hero, the anti-robin hood Bush. Steal from the poor and give to the rich. It’s the republican way, always was and always will be.

mikem13 Why does anyone pay attention to Dick Morris? He was a Clinton hack until Clinton didn’t set him up for life. Now he’s a “conservative” commentator? Homey don’t think so.

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Texas Watch

TxPotomac lets you know what stories to look out for today — and later this week.

On Deck: Today

★ The House Appropriations Committee will mark up a draft bill outlining appropriations to financial services programs in the 2012 fiscal year. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT.

★ The New America Foundation will go over current and possible missions for U.S. armed forces and discuss which are necessary and which could be addressed through other means. The discussion, titled “Show Me the Missions: Deficits and Defense,” will include speakers from the Heritage Foundation, Center for American Progress and Cato Institute and be held at 9:45 a.m. EDT.

★ Friday. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations Subcommittee will join the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee in holding a hearing called “Venezuela’s Sanctionable Activity” at 9 a.m. EDT.